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Resources
 OKC Youth United
 New York Times article, “Coming Out”
 It Gets Better Project
 Child Welfare League of America
 Lambda Legal
 National Prevention Strategy: America’s Plan for Better Health & Wellness
Young Adults in Transition
Save the Date!!
Children‟s Behavioral Health Conference
May 15-17, 2012
Tulsa Southern Hills Marriott
Contact: 405-522-8019
OK Transition Workgroup “Youth & Young Adult Guided Strategic Planning”
On July 15, 2011 youth, young adults and providers from across the state convened to discuss the many challenges young people face as they transition to adulthood. Those youth who have experienced out-of-home care were invited to provide expertise that was representative of youth populations targeted to receive services through state, tribal, and local initiatives and programs aimed at helping youth transition successfully to adulthood. Adults working with transition-age youth also attended and contributed their insights. Youth participants included former foster youth, wraparound youth and young adults and youth who have experienced the Oklahoma juvenile justice system who shared their insights and opinions of perceived assets and gaps in existing programs or in the delivery. Experience was based on individual experiences in of out-of-home care: 1) program or practice elements which have been successful at engaging them or otherwise enhancing their opportunities to successfully manage the obstacles they had to overcome during their transition; 2) areas that need improving or are missing; and 3) ways they can be improved.
Notes were taken during open discussion on issues the participants find critical to effectiveness and were combined with written comments from participants. Information and input collected during the meeting was used for a larger statewide planning meeting on July 26, 2011.
ISSUE
Aug.—Sept.
2011
03
From the Oklahoma Healthy Transitions Initiative
Tools to Support and Engage LGBTQI2-S Youth
The first and foremost important step to being culturally competent with youth that are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, 2-Spirit is to acknowledge that these young people live and work in every community, including yours. Below are excerpts from „Caseworkers with LGBTQ Clients‟ published by the CWLA/Lambda Legal Joint Initiative that helps in developing culturally sensitive relationships with this population.
Acknowledge that LGBTQ young people are in your midst.
Don‟t assume that all of your clients are heterosexual. Even if you think you do not have clients who are LGBTQ, you most likely do. Many LGBTQ young people fear the negative reactions that come from revealing who they are and carefully hide that they are LGBTQ.
Examine your own beliefs/attitudes that might affect your professional responsibilities to your LGBTQ clients.
Be aware of your own beliefs, prejudices and gaps in knowledge surrounding issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. Regardless of your personal beliefs, you have a professional duty to care for your LGBTQ clients.
Be aware of your language.
Eliminate antigay slurs from discussion. Use gender-neutral language with all of your clients. For example, rather than asking a teenage boy if he has a girlfriend, ask if he has “someone special” in his life. Learn the difference between “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” and use the words gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning in appropriate contexts.
Create a positive physical environment in your office that welcomes and affirms LGBTQ people.
Display recognizable symbols of support such as pink triangles and rainbow flags to let all your clients know that you are a sensitive, safe and welcoming person for LGBTQ people to go to.
Be prepared to work effectively with transgender youth.
Transgender youth may have unique medical and housing needs; they often face serious risk of harassment and violence. It‟s important that you seek out additional resources, if necessary, to provide appropriate services and placements. Allow all of your clients to express their gender identities in ways that are most comfortable for them, including allowing transgender clients to dress in the manner they choose. Be supportive of transgender young people‟s gender identity and expression. If you practice the above suggestions you can develop a trusting relationship that will be beneficial in providing culturally competent services for those youth with whom you work.
Questions? Contact: Robert Blue, OSOC Cultural Competency Coordinator, 405-522-3660 or rblue@odmhsas.org
Oklahoma Healthy Transition Initiative Sites
Cleveland County Tulsa County
Central Oklahoma Community Mental Health Center Youth Services of Tulsa
Family Frontier System's of Care 918-582-0061
405-573-3903
For newsletter questions, contact: lgoldberg@odmhsas.org
Challenges for LGBT2Q in rural & frontier areas
Youth often remain anonymous in their communities
Lack of anonymity in rural communities may “exacerbate” the homophobia youth experience from peers
Youth may use media, such as chat rooms and websites, to help them discover and develop their identity
Youth may connect more often through community organizations for social justice and economic issues than through social media
Public parks, parking lots of fast food restaurants, or Wal-Mart are often meeting spots for youth in communities that lack gay community centers

Resources
 OKC Youth United
 New York Times article, “Coming Out”
 It Gets Better Project
 Child Welfare League of America
 Lambda Legal
 National Prevention Strategy: America’s Plan for Better Health & Wellness
Young Adults in Transition
Save the Date!!
Children‟s Behavioral Health Conference
May 15-17, 2012
Tulsa Southern Hills Marriott
Contact: 405-522-8019
OK Transition Workgroup “Youth & Young Adult Guided Strategic Planning”
On July 15, 2011 youth, young adults and providers from across the state convened to discuss the many challenges young people face as they transition to adulthood. Those youth who have experienced out-of-home care were invited to provide expertise that was representative of youth populations targeted to receive services through state, tribal, and local initiatives and programs aimed at helping youth transition successfully to adulthood. Adults working with transition-age youth also attended and contributed their insights. Youth participants included former foster youth, wraparound youth and young adults and youth who have experienced the Oklahoma juvenile justice system who shared their insights and opinions of perceived assets and gaps in existing programs or in the delivery. Experience was based on individual experiences in of out-of-home care: 1) program or practice elements which have been successful at engaging them or otherwise enhancing their opportunities to successfully manage the obstacles they had to overcome during their transition; 2) areas that need improving or are missing; and 3) ways they can be improved.
Notes were taken during open discussion on issues the participants find critical to effectiveness and were combined with written comments from participants. Information and input collected during the meeting was used for a larger statewide planning meeting on July 26, 2011.
ISSUE
Aug.—Sept.
2011
03
From the Oklahoma Healthy Transitions Initiative
Tools to Support and Engage LGBTQI2-S Youth
The first and foremost important step to being culturally competent with youth that are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, 2-Spirit is to acknowledge that these young people live and work in every community, including yours. Below are excerpts from „Caseworkers with LGBTQ Clients‟ published by the CWLA/Lambda Legal Joint Initiative that helps in developing culturally sensitive relationships with this population.
Acknowledge that LGBTQ young people are in your midst.
Don‟t assume that all of your clients are heterosexual. Even if you think you do not have clients who are LGBTQ, you most likely do. Many LGBTQ young people fear the negative reactions that come from revealing who they are and carefully hide that they are LGBTQ.
Examine your own beliefs/attitudes that might affect your professional responsibilities to your LGBTQ clients.
Be aware of your own beliefs, prejudices and gaps in knowledge surrounding issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. Regardless of your personal beliefs, you have a professional duty to care for your LGBTQ clients.
Be aware of your language.
Eliminate antigay slurs from discussion. Use gender-neutral language with all of your clients. For example, rather than asking a teenage boy if he has a girlfriend, ask if he has “someone special” in his life. Learn the difference between “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” and use the words gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning in appropriate contexts.
Create a positive physical environment in your office that welcomes and affirms LGBTQ people.
Display recognizable symbols of support such as pink triangles and rainbow flags to let all your clients know that you are a sensitive, safe and welcoming person for LGBTQ people to go to.
Be prepared to work effectively with transgender youth.
Transgender youth may have unique medical and housing needs; they often face serious risk of harassment and violence. It‟s important that you seek out additional resources, if necessary, to provide appropriate services and placements. Allow all of your clients to express their gender identities in ways that are most comfortable for them, including allowing transgender clients to dress in the manner they choose. Be supportive of transgender young people‟s gender identity and expression. If you practice the above suggestions you can develop a trusting relationship that will be beneficial in providing culturally competent services for those youth with whom you work.
Questions? Contact: Robert Blue, OSOC Cultural Competency Coordinator, 405-522-3660 or rblue@odmhsas.org
Oklahoma Healthy Transition Initiative Sites
Cleveland County Tulsa County
Central Oklahoma Community Mental Health Center Youth Services of Tulsa
Family Frontier System's of Care 918-582-0061
405-573-3903
For newsletter questions, contact: lgoldberg@odmhsas.org
Challenges for LGBT2Q in rural & frontier areas
Youth often remain anonymous in their communities
Lack of anonymity in rural communities may “exacerbate” the homophobia youth experience from peers
Youth may use media, such as chat rooms and websites, to help them discover and develop their identity
Youth may connect more often through community organizations for social justice and economic issues than through social media
Public parks, parking lots of fast food restaurants, or Wal-Mart are often meeting spots for youth in communities that lack gay community centers